A chain of barrier islands limits the amount of strong waves reaching the Biloxi beach shoreline, making the calm gentle waters ideal for water-based activities and children!

Known as the "Playground of the South", the Mississippi Coast and Biloxi Beach offer a wealth of fun for everyone. There are dozens of places providing convenient beach access, photo opportunities and water adventures for beachcombers. As you travel farther west from Biloxi/Gulfport, the area becomes more residential and can offer quieter and more tranquil sections of beaches for sunbathing, romantic walks or moonlight picnics.

There are designated areas of Biloxi beach that provide nesting areas for an endangered bird species known as Least Terns. Visitors are restricted from these areas, but encouraged to watch, take pictures and enjoy these beautiful birds.

The Ship Island ferry can take visitors from the Gulfport Small Craft Harbor to the area's biggest barrier island, Ship Island. Ship Island Excursions offers daily passenger ferry service to West Ship Island and Fort Massachusetts (circa 1858), part of Gulf Islands National Seashore. The island is approximately 10 miles offshore and offers beautiful Gulf waters for swimming, sunbathing, shelling finding and more. Mississippi Magazine recently named the island as one of the Top 25 places to see in the state, and USA Today named it as one of the Top 10 Beaches in the United States. If you go, bring plenty of sunscreen as the sun can be quite strong. The cruise to the barrier island takes about one-hour each way and dolphin sightings are frequent during the boat ride. Food service, chair and umbrella rentals are available on the island. Ship Island Excursions runs March to October.